Apple on Tuesday launched the iPhone 12, the most significant refresh of its lineup since the iPhone X, with support for 5G.
The iPhone 12 comes in four different models: $699 iPhone 12 Mini, $799 iPhone 12, $999 iPhone 12 Pro and $1,099 iPhone 12 Pro Max. The Mini is the smallest iPhone since the iPhone 8 and has all the same features as the iPhone 12.
For the first time, iPhone 12 will support 5G, including ultrawide band mmWave in the U.S., the fastest kind of 5G service available.
The most popular PC game in the world, League of Legends, is coming to the iPhone 12, which Apple says is only possible because of its proprietary A14 chip and 5G speeds. (It’s unclear, though, if users will only be able to play over 5G.)
Apple is bringing back MagSafe, meaning that magnetic accessories such as cases or wireless chargers can snap onto the back of the phone via an internal magnet.
iPhones will come with a USB-C to Lightning cable, but the box won’t have a pair of headphones and charging brick because Apple wants to cut down packaging and reduce carbon emissions.
Apple is marketing its Pro models for users who want hefty photo and video features, which include 10-bit HDR recording, the ability to shoot with Dolby Vision HDR, a new ProRAW format and a LiDAR scanner for augmented reality.
BIG NUMBER
Apple says the iPhone 12 is 11% thinner, 15% smaller and 16% lighter than the iPhone 11, even though it has the same screen size.
KEY BACKGROUND
Though the pandemic forced Apple to temporarily shut down stores and delay the iPhone launch, the company’s shares have soared 110% year over year and was the first publicly traded company to surpass $2 trillion in market value in August.
